WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Rates on 30-year mortgages declined this week for the first time in two months, mortgage company Freddie Mac reported Thursday in its weekly nationwide survey.

    In the week ending April 7, rates on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.93 percent, down from 6.04 percent last week.Last week's rate was the highest since last July as rates had risen for seven consecutive weeks.

    The survey also showed that rates on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 5.48 percent this week from 5.58 percent last week.

    Meanwhile, rates on one-year adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 4.23 percent from 4.33 percent and five-year hybrid adjustable rate mortgages dipped to 5.33 percent from 5.43 percent.

    "Mortgage rates slipped this week on news that job creation in March came out much lower than had been expected," said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft. "This would indicate there is less money being spent and therefore less inflationary pressure onthe economy."

    Future mortgage rate increases will be at a modest pace, Nothaft said. That will still translate into strong sales of both new and existing homes. Enditem